8/29/14

Maybe you've already applied to be a panelist for this year's Cybils Awards....or maybe you've never heard of the Cybils. If you haven't, these are awards for children's and YA books in various categories, chosen by panels of bloggers from lists of books nominated by all and sundry. There are two rounds of judging--starting in October, first round panelists pick shortlists from the pool of nominated books, and after the shortlisted books are announced on the first of January, the second round panelists pick the winners. The deadline to apply to be a panelist is this coming Friday, September 5th.

There are two speculative fiction groups--one for Elementary and Middle Grade books, and one for YA. I've already talked up the joys of being an EMG panelist, since I'm the category chair, so today I'm shinning a little light on the fun of YA Spec. Fic.!

For starters, they always get more books than we do in EMG. And with so many truly excellent YA spec. fic. books published every year, they have a heck of hard time limiting their shortlists to the maximum of seven books! The first round (October through December) is some of the most intense and enjoyable reading and book discussing you'll ever experience, and it is tremendously worthwhile. The number of applicants for YA Spec. Fic. is down a bit this year, so do consider throwing your name into the pool of potential panelists--just think of all the great books published in this Cybils year that you will get to read and discuss! (year being Oct.16, 2013 to Oct. 15, 2014).

Here's where you apply. It really is a lot of fun, a chance to become an expert in a particular field, and a great way to make new blogging friends! The rosters of panelists are announced mid-Sept., and book nominating starts Oct. 1. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

And now, here are the books that have won in YA Spec. Fic. in the eight years of the Cybils' existence! (Jonathan Stroud, btw, has the honor of having won in both YA and EMG. Will Shannon Hale, with eligible EMG books, be able to pull the same trick off this year???)
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I'll announce the winner next Friday, but in the meantime, here's how things stand on Saturday morning:

11 comments:

Every year when you guys put the call out for judges/panellists I daydream about doing it, but realistically I know there's no way I could find the time. I hope you get lots of excellent panellists (which I'm sure you will) and that you all have lots of fun discussing books. I look forward to nominating and following along!

I think I have to go with Hunger Games myself--I was one who shortlisted it, and it was brand new then, without all the hype around it now! I gave it to my mother that Christmas, and she stayed up till three that night to finish it....